My Valentine!

Clearly our lives have changed drastically and our focus is on Mason (which makes it easy to forgot how we got to where we are today).  This Valentine's Day we might be celebrating at home over a home cooked meal and by exchanging cards, however we can't forgot how we got here.  It all started with just the two of us and the love we have for each other.  I'm so lucky to have Matt in my life; he is not just my husband he is my best friend!  I love the way he loves me and the way he loves and cares for Mason.  So, even though life is all about Mason right now we have to remember each other and how we got to this point.

I won't get too sappy (mainly cause that isn't my style) but in honor of Valentine's Day I want to give a shout out to Matt!  Thank you for being you; love you so much.

Honeymoon in Greece

Trip to NYC April 2011

Sara & Joe's Wedding

Engagement Picture

4 months: Apples, squash, peaches & pears oh my

Mason celebrated his 4 month birthday this past weekend!  It is honestly so hard to believe how quickly he is growing up and changing.  Mason is extremely observant; he watches our faces and actions very intensely. He is starting to make new noises (that have us adults laughing out loud) and he tries his hardest to mimic our facial expressions and tongue movements. His rapid growth and development have me mesmerized and watching his every move.  Basically, I just can't get enough of my little man!

For the past month of so now I've been giving Mase baby food mixed with oatmeal and milk!  He loves it; he kind of yells at us when we aren't getting the food in his month fast enough.  So far, there isn't anything we have given him that he won't eat.

Since we have been back from Florida Mason hasn't been sleeping through the night!  I think it is combination of 4th month regression of sleep and teething.  Some nights are better then others but when he wakes up every couple of hours it makes for an extremely long day for Matt and I.

Visit from Jean and Darrell: Jean & Darrell drove in this past weekend!  They hadn't seen Mase in a few months and were shocked on how much he has changed.  They were kind enough to help us with a few projects around the house.  Thanks to them we have another room painted and a place to hang our coats!  Their craftsmanship was greatly appreciated and I'm pretty sure will have a new list of projects for them come their next visit.

Random Tid Bits & Thoughts: Mason got another cold this past weekend and this time Matt and I were armed with a NoseFrida!  This little invention from Sweden is fabulous and really helps with his stuffy nose.  If you are a mom with a young child go out and buy the NoseFrida now....before your babe comes down with another cold.  It might seem kind of gross but truly it isn't and the relief it offers him makes a world of difference.

This week is Healthy Relationship Week (Feb 11- 15).  Alpha Chi Omega is celebrating by encouraging everyone to change their Facebook profile or send an Instagram pic of themselves with a sign that says "Love is _______________." This really got me thinking, 1) because I really want to participate in the campaign and 2) how would I describe such a strong yet important word to someone who didn't know the meaning or to my son in the future. Part of me thinks there aren't any words needed and a picture of Mason and I describes the meaning of love in and of itself. Since I had him love has taken on an entirely different meaning in my life and at the same time has become something indescribable. Any who, this is what I ended up submitting!  Feel free to participate in Healthy Relationship Week as well.

3 Months & Growing

Needless to say our little man isn't so little! He is growing like a weed; by the time we left Fl there were clothes we brought with us that he no longer fit in.  There are mornings I walk in his room to get him and think he has grown over night;  no joke.  He is only 3 months but he is quickly growing out of his 6 month clothes and moving right on up to the 9 month outfits and onesies.  We are glad we have a healthy, happy (usually) boy however, I'm pretty sure he will taper off at some point (he has to, right?). I mean he is only eating breast-milk and a tiny bit of baby food (I know, I know you aren't supposed to feed babies anything beside milk for the first 6 months but we've decided to break that "rule," plus he really likes sweat potatoes...a couple baby spoonfuls a day won't hurt him).

We don't have an exact weight for Mason but when we get on the scale and then hold Mason and get back on the scale he is weighing over 16 pounds.  We go back to the doctor at the four month mark so stayed tuned for exact height and weight at that time!  

At 3 months it is clear Mason has a big personality! He has STRONG opinions about what he likes and dislikes and has a belly laugh that melts my heart. 

He LOVES...

- to play 

- to talk 

- watching TV

- his swing (I'm going to be sad when he grows out of it because it is the only place he will nap longer then 30 minutes)

- kisses

-music

He is ticklish pretty much all over but his feet and neck really get him giggling. When he doesn't like something he communicates it very well; he does this fake cough and starts arching his back.  He can be SO stubborn; wonder who he gets that from!?!?! He knows we are ALL suckers for him because once he gets us to do exactly what he wants he just smiles or laughs....pretty sure he is laughing at us. So, overall there is one BOSS in this house and it is Mason....  

Little Work/Play Station for our little Buddy!

Ringing in the New Year; Welcome 2013!

Every year my family and I head to Florida between Christmas and New Years; it is one of my favorite places on earth! Over the years Matt has become very fond of the trip as well; hello he can get some extra golf games in before the end of the year.  When we found out we were expecting we both decided we were going to book our flight down there as usual and if all went well I would stay a few extra days with mom and the baby.  So, on Friday December 28th Mason took the his first plane ride as we headed down to FL.  It so happened that mom, Mia and I were pretty sick for the flight, so in that regard it was miserable.  However, Mason was a champ!

This trip was similar to years past but yet so different (I didn't even bring a book down there to occupy my time, knowing that Mason would do a good job of that).  I'm not going to lie; between being sick and adjusting to "vacation" with a baby it took me awhile to relax.  The lesson I learned here is that mommies don't get a vacation; however I much appreciated being a mom in the warm FL weather (not having to bundle him up was a huge plus).  One of the more special aspects of our trip was that Mason got to meet his Aunt Megan!  Megan, lives in Orlando and took the drive to come see us and hang with Mase Man.  We all truly enjoyed our visit with Megan and Dave and so look forward to seeing them again soon at their wedding in May.

Mason with Aunt Megan

We have one family tradition on our annual trip to FL and that is outlet mall shopping New Years Day! Dad had a plan and boy did it work....while we all speed shopped Dad held Mason the entire time (I'm talking hours).  Mason may look small but that isn't the case... Dad is still recovering from holding our 15 plus pound 3 month old.  The shopping trip was a success mainly for Mason because were able to pick up some really cute outfits for him.

While on our trip we took Mason swimming!  Not only he is the cutest pool bound baby I've ever seen but he truly enjoyed the water.  My mom took him in the water and really got him to love kicking and floating around.  We also discovered that Mason loves being outside; we took lots of walks while we were done there; I'm pretty sure he is missing those walks now.  Just not that doable in the cold Chicago weather. 

Worn out after a few minutes in the pool

Mom and Dad watched Mason while Mia, Marc, Matt and I went to dinner and to play some mini golf!  It was great to go on a double date with my sister and have some adult time!

Sisters

I really got spoiled while I was in FL; having so many extra hands was nice!  They aren't kidding when they say "it takes a village." I really didn't want to come home but I wasn't so sure I was up for the challenge of flying with Mason alone (more so handling all the equipment the little guy comes with).  I feel extremely lucky to have had the time down in FL, for my parents and sister for all their help and for my husband who allowed me to stay down there without him. Next year I plan to stay the entire month of January and I'm hoping some of my friends come take the trip down to hang in the sunny FL weather.

Mase and Aunt Mia

Morning sunshine!

The last couple years have been VERY busy for us; wedding, baby, move and job change!  We will look back on 2012 with fond memories but we are hoping to slow down a bit in 2013 and enjoy each other and Mason as well as get settled in our new house. 

Baby's First Christmas!

 Christmas is always something I look forward to each year; great food and lots of family time!  This year was extra special because of Mason.  Every year we celebrate Christmas Eve Italian style at my parent's house; lots of fish and lots of eating. Who can resist a spread consisting of fish salad, baked clams, stuffed artichokes, fried calamari, pizza bread, crab and much much more (believe it or not)!?!?! Per usual everything was delicious and my parents did an amazing job making the night a success (no surprise though). Mason was the hit of the holiday and was passed around like a hot potato while meeting his cousins, aunts and uncles!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Mason received so much love from ALL his older cousins!

Aunt Rose finally got the little man to sleep (I need her to come over and work her magic  when I'm trying to get stuff done around the house)!

 Christmas morning is always fun for us; we open presents from Santa and then each other!  We usually spend the night at Mom & Dad's but this year we woke up in our own home Christmas morning (no need to sleep in my bed from high school when I live 10 mins away).  We packed Mason up Christmas morning and headed over there in our pj's to celebrate our usual Christmas Day traditions.  Presents are always something I look forward to; it is always fun to see what others decided to get you (and their reactions to what you gave them)!  However, another tradition that makes Christmas morning fun for us is heating up all the leftovers from the night before and  pigging out.  The food always tastes better the next morning and it is always nice to gather at the table and reminisce about the night before.

Christmas night we head over to Uncle Neal and Aunt Rose's house and see the rest of my moms family (we weren't sure we were going to actually make it due to getting lost, haha)!  Mason met more of his cousins but was a bit exhausted after two days of so much excitement.

Gathering with the all the family over the holidays and spending Mason's first Christmas in our new home was just another reminder of how furniture we truly are! We hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

Love ~ The Murray's and Baldo's